We have been tasked by very senior management at Transnet in South Africa to produce a white paper which provides them with thoughts, ideas and guidelines as to how they might approach the whole question of Railway Heritage, Steam etc. in South Africa in the future.

It is important that the views of SIA members be included in the submission and in order for us to put together a comprehensive document we would appreciate SIA members giving this matter some thought and directing e-mails to us based on the attached document....

Download the brief as a single PDF document...
Transnet White Paper 3rd April 2008 - 100kb PDF (opens in a new window)

SIA is now over four months old. Steam enthusiasts and supporters of South Africa's rail preservation programme are joining in large numbers from around the world. In fact we are delighted with the fact that every day more than a dozen people sign up. Our ultimate target is 1,000 signed up SIA supporters which we believe will give us the necessary depth to continue our work and to demonstrate to the authorities that there is real interest in the objectives of SIA....

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Newsletter Edition 4 - March 2008 - 1.6Mb PDF (opens in a new window)

Last month we promised you shorter and more frequent editions of our newsletter so here we
are with issue number 3. The marvelous thing about SIA is the sheer exuberance of our
supporters around the world as we are now truly an internationally known organization as you
will see as you read through this edition. This has also translated itself into a wealth of
articles, information and reaction to the efforts of Steam in Action, so much so that we have
virtually filled our next two editions.

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Newsletter Edition 3 - February 2008 - 1.8Mb PDF (opens in a new window)

Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State of South Africa operates one of the largest collections of Narrow Gauge locomotives in the world. By public request we from time-to-time open our railway to the public and this we will be doing between 9th and 13th April 2008.

Up to 10 different Narrow Gauge engines will be steamed throughout the Festival with visitors and enthusiasts being given an opportunity to familiarise themselves with not only the railway but all aspects of the Sandstone Heritage Trust preservation programme. Regular guided tours will be held of all items in our collection.

A special highlight will be the Reefsteamers steam hauled passenger train from Johannesburg which will provide an opportunity for visitors to see some of South Africa's biggest steam locomotives in operation on the Eastern Free State line.

Download the details as PDF documents...
Steam & Cosmos Festival Intro - 400kb PDF (opens in a new window)
Steam & Cosmos Festival Details and *NEW* Pricing - 395kb PDF (opens in a new window)

To coincide with the Sandstone Heritage Trust Steam and Cosmos Festival from 9th to 13th April 2008, Steam in Action will be running a special train from Johannesburg to Ficksburg and return for members to attend this event.

The train will be double headed by Class 15F No:3052 "Avril" owned by world renowned wild life artist, conservationist and steam enthusiast, David Shepherd, and Class 15F No: 3016 from Reefsteamers. SIA members are encouraged to be "hands on" on this trip as, during the stopover at Ficksburg, the locomotives will be used to bring two 25NC locomotives from Bethlehem to Ficksburg. The two locos are under threat of being scrapped at Bethlehem and will be relocated to Sandstone's Ficksburg facility for safekeeping.

Download the details as PDF documents...
The Free State Explorer Intro - 280kb PDF (opens in a new window)
The Free State Explorer Details and Pricing - 380kb PDF (opens in a new window)

We have fought many demons throughout January to get our second newsletter out but we are now on top of them.

Karyn Clarke who produces the newsletter for us has had some very stressful days trying to dodge the power blackouts and this has certainly cost us dearly in terms of time wasted.

Since SIA is not in the business of wasting time we have upped our game and the next newsletter will be out within a week.

We know that you will be impressed with some of the well constructed opinions embodied in this month's newsletter.  Please try to remain at the forefront of the debate and please convey any ideas and recommendations to us.

Dave Richardson

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Newsletter Edition 2 January 2008 - 1.4Mb PDF (opens in a new window)

How the Enchantress was saved.

Every surviving steam locomotive has a story - but some of those stories have gotten lost along the way, and the individuals who saved the engines, forgotten. Here, we have a surviving, detailed and inspiring personal story of how a non-descript, somewhat neglected and aging locomotive won the affection of an engineless Kimberly-based crew. She so impressed them even in her shabby, untuned state, they requested her to be assigned to them as their regular engine. This affection became the abiding passion that upgraded the loco into top condition and which eventually strove and fought to save her after she was unfairly retired.

A well loved Class 25NC No.3488 rolls a goods along to Perdevlei back in 1991...

The locomotive in question is the Class 25(NC) No.3488 ‘’Enchantress.’ She was crewed by John Gilberthorpe and Richard Niven., who, along with Geoff Hall, worked to keep the locomotive intact and arranged for her private purchase. This locomotive, 16 years after retirement, is 95% intact and is now safe in the good hands of the Reefsteamers. She is being assessed for professional renovation, to be made suitable for main line service once more. The passion of her old crew will eventually receive its reward.

Click here to read this remarkable rescue story on the Reefsteamers website.